November 2006 archive

A round of GNU/Linux, heading in to the back nine. (Part 2)

Continued from Part 1: How was your round of GNU/Linux?

Irksome Screen Resolution Problems

Everything was pretty well set: I had network connectivity and could get to a network server for sharing spreadsheets and use Firefox for browsing. But the display resolution was too “big.” I found where you can set it, but there were only two options: 800×600 and 640×480. And getting it to go higher was a bother.

It felt a bit like going back in time. Suddenly I had to try remembering things about the hardware, and it reminded me of when I had to hop through a lot of hoops to make things work in Windows. For quite a while now in Windows, things have gotten so well supported with drivers and “plug and play” installation–which works …

How was your round of GNU/Linux? (Part 1)

As threatened, here is an account of my GNU/Linux adventures of last weekend. It was enjoyable and frustrating. And I’m still struggling with how to write about it. What level of detail will serve you the best? There are dry technical details to be mentioned, but also some observations on the experience that might benefit others trying to make this same move to freedom. For me, it seems to be as much a psychological test as a technical challenge.

I hope that some of you will gain something from this. There are many good technical help and reference web sites out there, but that’s not really what I’m aiming at with this blog. I’d love it if people found this site on a search …

Friday Photopost: Ladies on the Dock

The Pink and White Showy Lady’s Slipper is the state flower of Minnesota. They are not very common. We came across these ones growing through a dock laying on the ground near a lake. There were others growing free nearby.

Not sure what should be done in this situation. There are conservation statutes and special instructions for if, when, and how they can be transplanted. Later that summer or the next year, there were no more of the flowers to be found in the area.

Fragile, transient beauty.

Standard Notice: Taken with my two-megapixel Olympus camera. …

Little Tiny Baby Steps

I mentioned taking a run at the walls of GNU/Linux last weekend, but maybe it’s more like little tiny baby steps. I’m thinking about how to write about this. One of my core goals with this site is to write about my progress in this move from Windows to GNU/Linux, but in what way? Technical details? Philosophical thoughts? Angsty ramblings?

I’m stalling because again the time has passed by and I don’t have time to properly get in to my subject. But I really hate to let the blog grow cold, and want to get in the habit of posting more often for y’all. At the same time I realize these kinds of posts aren’t especially helpful.

I’ve spent time posting several comments around the web, and maybe that’s where …

Yah, sure. You betcha.

If you ever visit Grand Marais, Minnesota, you’ll want to check out Sven & Ole’s Pizza. It’s good pizza. It probably won’t cause you to achieve total enlightenment or anything, but it’s fun to say you’ve been to Sven & Ole’s Pizza.

Grand Marais is on the north shore of Lake Superior, a beautiful part of the world with some great parks, and worth visiting for a lot more than pizza.

I have a few blog posts brewing in my head, but limited time. Tonight I’m trying to get to bed at a reasonable hour, so …

Does Free Software Taste Great, or is Open Source Less Filling?

Originally published in Free Software Magazine, 30 October 2006.

Which do you like best: the satisfying, rich taste of principle in free software? Or do you prefer the less morally filling and pragmatic goodness of open source? Do you wish people would stop endlessly rehashing the whole question of “free” versus “open source?” Or do you enjoy the chance to talk about goals and philosophy? As you might suspect, since I’m bringing it up…

…I like to talk about it. Is it too soon, though, following the lengthy debate stirred up by the recent “What should we call it?” FSM poll? Too dividing? Pointless? Do I …